Lights! Action! And Then . . .

. . . Cubs-phillies Rained Out In 4th

August 09, 1988|By Jerome Holtzman.

Don`t fool with Mother Nature. That seemed to be the message at Wrigley Field Monday night when the Cubs, previously the only major league team without lights, broke a 72-year tradition of sunshine baseball. There were flashes of lightning in the third inning, and thunder in the fourth, accompanied by heavy rains that forced a postponement.

Those in the standing-room-only crowd estimated at 40,000, essentially a

``celebrity`` audience, either huddled under umbrellas or scurried for cover. The game was called after a 2-hour 10-minute wait, with the Cubs leading the Phillies 3-1 in the fourth inning, and must be replayed from the beginning.

Among those soaked were Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and National League President Bart Giamatti, both of whom insisted the Cub management install lights or else, and 91-year-old Harry Grossman, a Cub fan for 83 years who pulled the switch.

``Let there be light!`` Grossman shouted into the microphone during the pregame ceremonies. Then, with the assistance of Jack Brickhouse, Grossman rical countdown:

``One!``

``One!`` the fans responded.

``Two!``

``Two!`` louder.

``Three!`` whereupon Grossman turned to an usher next him who was holding a portable switchboard. He activated a lever. The fans roared in approval.

The musicians from the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, perhaps almost as famous locally as the Cubs, swung into several brassy classical selections and a group of John Philip Sousa marches before handling the national anthem chores.

At 7:01 p.m., onetime Cub ace Rick Sutcliffe, struggling with a .500

(9-9) record, threw the first pitch to the Phillies` Phil Bradley, a light-hitting outfielder. Simultaneous with Sutcliffe`s delivery, in a remarkable display of timing, hundreds of flash bulbs went off, recording photographic evidence of the new era. An estimated string of 6,852 day home games, dating to 1916, had been broken.

Three pitches later Bradley homered, the first such blow here under the Cub lights, an ominous beginning. The ball cleared the wire fence behind the left-field bleachers, a few feet to the left of the 368-foot mark, stunning the crowd into silence.

The Cubs retaliated in the bottom half. Mitch Webster, leading off, hit a ground single up the middle, out of the straining reach of second baseman Juan Samuel. Ryne Sandberg then stepped in to test Kevin Gross, a big right-hander. But before Gross threw a pitch to Sandberg, Morganna the Kissing Bandit, was on the field. Having scaled the wall down the right-field line, she ran toward the plate, seemingly about to succeed in her 4-year threat to smooch the Cubs` second baseman.

A security guard caught and intercepted her near the mound. The fans groaned when a second security officer put the clamps on her from the other side. Thwarted, Morganna was pulled away.

Possibly inspired, or relieved, Sandberg stepped in and smashed a two-run homer, a high arching shot that parachuted safely into the left-field bleachers. It was No. 12 for Sandberg and lifted the Cubs into a 2-1 lead.

Shy and modest, as always, Sandberg hurried into the dugout. The fans sent up an enormous cheer that grew in volume. Sandberg remained in the shelter of the dugout. Finally, home-plate umpire Eric Gregg, eager to resume play, beckoned toward the Cub bench as if to say, ``Get out here so we can get this game going.`` Sandberg reappeared and doffed his cap in the time-honored tradition.

The Cubs threatened in the second when Damon Berryhill doubled with one out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sutcliffe, a strong hitter for a pitcher, carried Gross to the full count, then walked. But Webster rolled to first for the third out.

The Cubs had better fortune in the third. Sandberg opened with a walk and stole second. Mark Grace, giving himself up, grounded to the right side, Sandberg advancing to third. With two outs, Rafael Palmiero singled to right, extending his batting streak to 18 games and putting the Cubs ahead 3-1.

The hoopla began in midafternoon, four hours before the switch was thrown. Hundreds of reporters and announcers descended upon the Cubs, asking for an update on their thoughts and whether they were fully aware that they were about to make history.

``C`mon, don`t give me that history stuff,`` batting instructor Jimmy Piersall barked in his usual blunt manner. Asked for his views, Piersall countered with, ``Do you want an honest answer?`` Advised that honesty is always the best policy, Piersall said, ``I had more of a thrill 40 years ago when I played my first night game in Scranton, Pa., and Lou Kretlow struck me out three times.``

Joe Altobelli, another of the Cubs coaches, was considerably more excited.

``This is like a postseason game in August,`` Altobelli said. ``This must be something or all these people wouldn`t be here. Wrigley Field is like the last of the Mohicans. It`s a bright moment for baseball, comparable to Opening Day and the World Series.``